Tag Archives: photoblog

Laughing Amongst the Flowers and Best of 2009 in Photos

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I have been tagged in a photo meme by Smitten by Britain that asks for me to post my favorite photo of all time. So, I have been going through the photos like crazy for the last day and a half. How to pick one out of so many??

Because of this assignment, however, I have now gone about compiling my favorite pictures of 2009 taken by my camera or by someone who had a camera near me. It took a long time considering there are literally thousands of pictures in my portfolio. (Yes, I have too much time on my hands.) And, I was originally going to narrow it down to the top 20, but indecisive as ever – we now have The Top 62 Photos of the Year 2009 (and some of 2008). I based this on what I considered artistic merit and sentimental meaning. (And for those who may notice that these are posted on Flickr after I vehemently stated that I would delete my Flickr account forever….well, I have an explanation. You see. I did delete it, but when I went to look at a friends Flickr photos, it said I was still logged on and apparently all of my photos were still in place. They just don’t listen, do they? So, I uploaded more because they do a better slideshow than Picasa.)

Right. So, back to the original assignment. Favorite photo of all time.

There are so many. There is the photo of Jock with the kindest eyes I had ever seen that got me through the four months we were separated while he was traveling through Africa, and made me believe that he may actually be the person I thought he was during those eight hours of meeting him (but that’s for me to cherish). There is the picture of my mother as a woman in her twenties smiling and beautiful. There is the black and white photo of my Tia Juanita in her fedora, mi padre y mi abuela in Miami during the happiest of times. There is the incredibly remarkable and oh so defining photo of my best friend of twenty years and I in Cape Cod Massachusetts. There is the black and white picture that Lindsey took of my sister and I circa 1995 for a class assignment that exudes sisterly love….hold your horses…

Just when I was about to insert a completely different picture, I check my email and I have an email waiting in there from my Grandfather Vennes (you remember Sir John!) with a picture attached of my sister and I. Talk about perfect random coincidental timing! He took this picture of us circa 1988 in the fields of Prince Edward Island, Canada just outside of the campground he owned called Seal Cove. Despite our horrible matching shirts, I’d say he captured us at just the right moment.

So, in keeping with the passing of the torch of this photo meme. I am tagging people’s blogs I follow, some who know me and some who don’t…just to keep it interesting! Let’s see if they respond :)

Eileen O’Shea,

A Literal Girl,

American Crumpet,

The Cotton Monster, and

Milarkie to pick your favorite photo of all time.

Good luck! Because you’ll need it!

Finally, my photos from the Walk in the Snow have been published on Anglotopia.net. SEE FOR YOURSELF.

The Only Constant in Life is Change

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The last two weeks have been eye-opening.

I was beginning to get a bit unhappy and negative about not having a job, not helping to earn money in the house, and I started thinking I shouldn’t really be here in Bristol.  I missed the USA like I never thought I would, and the days were boring me to no end.  Even though I have this book I’m writing – I realized I was writing it purely out of habit rather than passion. The book club has been great, but that only happens once a month and I needed more than that.

I knew I had to either change my attitude or do something about it.  The change started happening last week after Jock and I attended a Theatre Bristol meeting.  It was the first time I had stepped into a theatre in about eight months, and as soon as I stepped in, I inhaled deeply.  There is nothing like the smell of an empty theatre – the mustiness, the sweat, the emotions all in the air from the last performance hanging there, not heavy, but eager and waiting for the next moment to be alive and have an audience cast their eyes on the experience that only live theatre can provide.

Over a hundred people showed up to the meeting to just discuss what was happening in the theatre world – that’s it.  They all met to have a chat.

After the meeting, I wrote to the leaders of the evening, and this is part of what I said:

“I attended last night’s meeting and was blown away by the openness and clarity imbued in the format from which you decided to lead the discussions.  Thank you for holding such a meeting.  Coming from Los Angeles and New York, I have never known such a fully all-encompassing theatre get-together to exist – well, except within the unions and I would hardly call those meetings warm or open.”

That night stirred something in me.  It wasn’t a desire to run back to the stage and it wasn’t a change in mind about leaving acting behind.  It was my acceptance of me as an artist.  I would never be able to hide from the fact that that’s who I am and I need stimulation unlike non-artists. Even just being around the other actors and writers fed that desire to create.

What am I doing differently now?

1.  I am reading several inspiring books, including New Earth by Eckhart Tolle.
2.  I wake up every morning about an hour earlier than I was before to meditate and put into focus what I want from the day.
3. I journal for fun every night.
4. I am entering a writing contest a week so I can become a published author before my book is finished.
5. I am researching grants for writers in order to bring in some money to help me finish my book.
6. Yoga
7. Being conscious of the thoughts I let into my mind – boy, that ego is a tricky character!
8. Applying for an internship once a week in the theatre doing anything (that was part of the email I wrote to Theatre Bristol).
9. I sit up straight when I write instead of slumping – it makes a difference.

10. And my favorite task I just finished – entering the Ladies Who… Club into a contest being held by Glamour Magazine! You can see my entry I submitted here as a PDF or below (and notice my English spellings):Ladies WhoP.S. Our book for this month is The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger.

I can’t believe what a difference all these little changes make.  I found that, although running and writing were great ways to keep busy, I need a well balanced and well rounded life of activities.

And, how lucky am I have to have this opportunity?  The other part of me thinks – you were crazy to not take advantage of all this free time! This is the time in my life when I can dedicate myself to ANYTHING I want to do.  When else will I be able to have this time? (Hopefully from now on if I’m careful).  Like Jock said, this is my time to be the best I can be.

Jock and I are better than ever too – even if my cheeriness is very anti-English (not really!).

On another note, Jock and his football (aka soccer) team won their championship this weekend – I was a proud girlfriend who stood in the rain and cold for four whole hours with her pom poms and skirt (nope, again, not really!) while they played game after game and won. Please mind the blinding uniforms!

football championstop goal scorers